NSW Government Delivering Funding for Our Community

Member for Kiama Gareth Ward along with Wollongong City Council is calling for suggestions for naming the new main bridge in the Fowlers Road to Fairwater Drive link

Gareth Ward said the NSW Government is getting on with the job in our local area.

“I am extremely proud of the record amounts of funding the NSW Government is injecting into Wollongong and the Illawarra. Be it the Albion Park Rail bypass, the Bulli hospital or this project - we have never before seen more funding coming from a State Government to our region. We are getting the job done,” Mr Ward said.

“I along with everyone else in our community look forward to hearing the announcement of the name of the Big Bridge in West Dapto.”

“If you have driven around West Dapto recently, you’ll have noticed things are really moving forward on this new link that will provide flood-reliable access over the South Coast rail line and floodplain,’’ Wollongong Lord Mayor Councillor Gordon Bradbery AM said.

“We’re at the point on this extensive project where we’re calling for submissions on the future name of the big bridge.’’

The main bridge to be named extends from Fowlers Road in Dapto and spans the Marshall Street deviation, the south coast rail line and Mullet Creek. The name will need to comply with Council’s Road Naming Policy 2018 and with the Geographical Names Board (GNB) Guidelines.

The Fowlers Road to Fairwater Drive Link is due to open in 2020 and will provide a vital connection for the growing suburbs of West Dapto to the Dapto Town Centre, the Princes Highway and the M1.

It is funded by $22.5 million from the NSW Government – Infrastructure NSW’s Restart NSW Illawarra Instructure Fund, $3.229 million interest subsidy through the NSW Government – Office of Local Government’s Local Infrastructure Renewal Scheme, $600,00 Design Grant from NSW Government – Department of Planning and Infrastructure, $10 million from the Australian Government’s National Stronger Regions Fund and Wollongong City Council.

The decision about the bridge name will be made by a Council working group that includes the Lord Mayor and Ward 3 Councillors. Their choice will go to Council for endorsement. The Fowlers Road extension, or the new road, will be named separately to the main bridge.

Suggestions for the bridge name need to be submitted by 5pm on Monday 9 September either via Council’s website, by emailing engagement@wollongong.nsw.gov.au or by filling out a hardcopy Feedback Form which is available at Dapto District Library or Council’s Customer Service Centre in Wollongong.